Common Conditions

Low-Level Laser Therapy Not Recommended for Treatment of Provoked Vestibulodynia

Women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) feel pain whenever their genital vestibule – the entrance to vagina – is touched. The pain can be triggered by sexual activity, inserting a tampon, having a gynecological exam, or even sitting. PVD can feel like an achy soreness or a sharp, burning sensation.

For some women, the pain is so severe they cannot have sex at all. Not surprisingly, PVD is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict.

Experts aren’t sure exactly what causes PVD, but several conditions may contribute to it, such as hormonal or genetic factors, stress, inflammation, infections, and tightness in the pelvic floor muscles. Some women may have more nerves in the vestibule than others. Because women’s experiences with PVD can vary greatly, it’s possible that many factors are involved.